Container with label and secondary item compartment

ABSTRACT

A combination package consisting of container for a product and secondary item packaged with it, and having a container; a label on the container; a secondary item compartment integrally formed with the label, an access opening for the compartment, and, a closure integrally, formed with the label for closing the secondary item compartment, the closure being releasable to remove the item.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The Invention relates to a combination container such as a beverage or food container for a primary product and having a label provided with a compartment for storing a secondary item such as a novelty or the like, or consumeables such as cookies, or candy, and in particular to such a container in which the label of the container incorporates a secondary compartment, outside the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At various sporting events, and other public events, venues and vacation locations containers, usually containing beverages or food products, are provided to consumers and to spectators. In many such occasions or events, these persons may wish to be provided with a secondary item or a novelty item or some memento of the occasion or event. They may also wish to have the convenience of a paper towel or so called “wet wipe”. In many cases such an item may for example be a pennant, or a picture of a participant or some article such as a badge, these being merely a few typical examples of such secondary items novelties or mementos, or consumables such as cookies, candy, breath mints or the like, collectively herein “secondary items”. It is considered desirable to provide a combination container, for example a beverage container for a primary product and which incorporates a secondary compartment for carrying such a secondary item. In this way, when the person uses such a beverage or food container, the secondary item can be withdrawn from the compartment and either used as part of the persons activity or can be retained as a memento, or in the case of a paper towel can allow the person to clean up.

Companies may wish to advertise new products or services, and may cross-promote with other companies selling the food or beverage item.

It has been known in the past to provide adhesive shipping labels, with various forms of compartments for containing letters, invoices, instructions, and address information. Examples of such earlier labels are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,874, Granted May 29, 1990, Title: Mailer Like Business Form with Transparent Front, Inventor: P. T. Henriette et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,710, Granted Jul. 13, 1993, Title: Vented Flexible Thin Chemi-Luminescent Device, Inventor: R D Giglin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,529 Granted Jun. 12, 1990, Title: Display and Storage Container with a liner having a spacer flap for photographic prints, Inventor: H. M. Levine; U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,623 Granted Jul. 8, 2003, Title: Duplex Label Pocket, Inventor: J D Roth; U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,673 Granted May 22, 2001, Title: Total Value Package, Inventor: B. M. Tonoff,; U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,325 Granted Jul. 2, 1996 Title: Storing and Dispensing System for products packaged in a sealed pouch, Inventor: J. F. Deflander et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,620, Granted May 18, 2010, Title: Flexible Packaging Structure with a built-in opening and re-close feature and method for making same, Inventor: R. C. Hebert et al.

All of these proposals are related to labelling devices which could be applied to a package having a flat surface, and are used simply for addressing the envelope or package.

The problem presented by the present invention is the fact that containers such as those sold at sporting events or other public occasions for example, are usually round, although in some cases can be square sided. The usual label for these containers, in many cases, is simply printed on the round container itself. In other cases, it may be that an adhesive label is applied to the container. It is desirable to provide a combination container, having a first container for a primary product, a secondary compartment for a secondary item in such an adhesive label which can be applied to a round or square sided container, and still provide sufficient space within the compartment to receive an item. It will also be appreciated that not withstanding the desirability of providing such a label with a secondary item compartment for packaging an item, on a container, the label on the container shall be clearly visible to project the primary message or identification of the primary product to the consumer. In the case where the primary label is printed directly on the container, the item compartment should be such that it does not obscure the label. In other cases, where the label is made as an adhesive sheet which is applied to the container, it is desirable that the item compartment in such a label shall not obscure the principal or primary message containing the name of the beverage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With a view to providing an article which achieves these various objectives, the invention provides a combination container, the container carrying a primary product, and having a label bonded to the container, a secondary item compartment integrally formed with the label, and an access opening for said compartment, and a closure integrally formed with the label for closing the item compartment, the closure being releasable to remove the item.

Preferably the invention provides such a combination container in which the label is formed of thermo plastic material, and an item compartment portion is formed with the label, and a closure for the compartment, all being integrally bonded together. Preferably, in one embodiment, the combination container will be a bottle with a cap, and the label will be bonded around the bottle, and the secondary item compartment will extend out from the label.

In this case the bottle will have a curved contour and the label will fit around the curved contour, the label having a predetermined first width, and the item compartment having a predetermined second width greater than said first width.

The various features which characterize the invention are pointed out with more particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a perspective illustration of a combination container, in this case a bottle with a label, incorporating an integral secondary item compartment and closure, and showing a beverage container partially cut away;

FIG. 1 b is a perspective illustration of the embodiment of FIG. 1 a shown applied to an open topped cup, or container sleeve;

FIG. 2 a is a an exploded perspective illustration partially cut away, illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 1 a or 1 b;

FIG. 2 b is a section along line 2 b-2 b of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3 a is a perspective illustration of an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 3 b is a perspective illustration of FIG. 3 a embodiment shown applied to open-topped container such as a cup or a container sleeve;

FIG. 4 a is a perspective illustration of a further alternate embodiment;

FIG. 4 b is a perspective illustration of the 4 a embodiment, shown applied to an open-topped container or a sleeve;

FIG. 5 a is a perspective illustration of a further embodiment of the invention shown for holding, for example, an elongated item; and,

FIG. 5 b is a perspective illustration of the FIG. 5 a embodiment, shown applied to an open-topped container or a sleeve.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1 a and FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown for the purposes of illustrating the invention. In this embodiment, a primary product container (10) which in this case is in the shape of a bottle, but which may be of any material, or any other form of container or package, is shown having a label (12), applied to the exterior. Typically the label will wrap around, or at least, three quarters of the way around the container, and is usually adhesively bonded to the container. The label is usually formed of paper, thermo plastic material or the like, such as is well known in the labelling art.

On the face of the label, there is a secondary item pocket (14), typically adhesively bonded to the label. The pocket may be adhesively bonded along three edges. The pocket typically is made of thermo plastic material so as to be somewhat resilient and stretchable or at least capable of adopting the shape of the secondary item to be inserted into it.

Typically the pocket (14) will have a front panel portion (16) and side panel portions (18) which are bonded to the label (12) or joined around the three sides, leaving the pocket free in the main central area (20). The front portion (16) is therefore capable of being somewhat expanded and extended relative to the label (12), to accommodate a secondary item (T). A closure flap (22) may fold over the open side of the front portion. The closure may be adhesively bonded to the front portion (16) for security. As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the front portion (16) of the pouch or pocket (14) will preferably provide a pocket, into which an item (T) can be inserted. The front portion (16) of the pocket (14), may be formed with generally L-shaped end walls (24), providing a marginal bonding area for bonding to the label (12). End walls (24) are gussets which are pleated so as to permit expansion of front panel portion (16) to accommodate a more bulky item, as shown in phantom. Preferably, there will be suitable graphics (G) printed on the front portion panel (16). Typically there will also be a printed or bonded rearward label (26), so as to provide a complete wrap around the container (10).

A secondary item indicated generally as (T), is shown schematically, prior to insertion into the pocket (14), and the closure flap (22) would then be folded over and optionally bonded to the front portion (16), to retain the item (T) in position. As noted the item T may be selected from a wide group of secondary items, which would be suited to the purpose of supplying a combined package consisting of the main container (10) with its contents, whether food or drink, and the pocket containing the secondary item T, of whatever nature is deemed to be suitable for supplying as the combined with the primary product in container (10).

Referring now to FIG. 1 b, this illustrates a pouch or pocket (30) similar to FIG. 1 a, when applied to an open-topped cup or container (C), which may contain a food item or a beverage or any other item that may be sold to a consumer. The FIG. 1 b illustration also represents a sleeve (32), typically a thermal insulation sleeve, which may be slid onto a container where the container, for example, contains a hot beverage, and some form of thermal insulation is required for comfort. The sleeve, would thus be provided with the label and pouch (30).

Referring now to FIGS. 3 a, this illustrates an alternate form of label. In this case, there is a wrap around label (40), and a front panel (42) is adhered to the label (40) down each of three edges, as shown in phantom, leaving a loose distended portion (44) between the three bonded edges. This embodiment would be substantially similar to the FIG. 1 embodiment with the exception that there is no closure flap required. FIG. 3 b illustrates an embodiment similar to FIG. 3 a but when applied to a cup, or for example, a thermal insulating sleeve for a hot beverage.

FIG. 4 a is a further embodiment. In this case, it is assumed that the item (not shown) would be relatively thin and not require a distended pouch. Such an item might, for example, be a souvenir player card, or for example, a ticket to some other event, or a ticket for another product, or a discount offer, (not shown).

In this case, the pouch will consist of a single panel label (50) which is wrapped around the container (10). The panel (50) is provided with a single transverse slit (52). The bonding of the panel (50) will be restricted by the phantom lines (54). In this way a front portion of the panel (50) is left free of bonding to the container. A thin item can then be slid into the slit, (52) and hidden behind the un-bonded portion of the panel (50).

A similar embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 b, in which case, the label (50) is shown applied either to an open-topped cup or a thermal insulating sleeve.

A further embodiment is shown is FIG. 5 a. In this case the label consists of a rearward panel 60) which is bonded to the container (10). A front pocket panel (62) is in the form a strip with side edges and bonded as shown in phantom, along each side edge (64). Along the top and bottom edges (66) of the front panel (62), generally U-shaped indents (68) are formed. This embodiment will be particularly suitable for the use of the insertion of items of slim but elongated nature. Such items may include, simply, a straw, or a flag or some other item which may be rolled tightly up. Such an elongated item is slid under the front panel (62), and the U-shaped indents (68) facilitate the insertion of the item into the front panel (62).

FIG. 5 b illustrates an embodiment similar to 5 a but shown applied to an open-topped cup, or for example, a thermal insulating sleeve.

The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited to any of the specific features as described, but comprehends all such variations thereof as come within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A combination package having a primary product container and secondary item compartment as a single package and comprising; a container, for containing a primary product within its interior; a label bonded to the container, the label defining a front and a reverse face, with the reverse face juxtaposed to the container; said label defining a predetermined label length, and width, and being wrapped around said container, and defining a median portion said reverse face being bonded to said container; a pocket panel forming a secondary item compartment bonded to the front face of said median portion of said label; primary product graphics displayed on said pocket panel, and further defining top and bottom pocket panel edges, and side edges, and a predetermined panel length, less than said label length, and a predetermined panel width less than said label width; two gusset strips, extending from said top to said bottom panel edges on each side of said pocket panel, each gusset strip being folded double along its length from top to bottom and forming folds infolded between said side edges of said pocket panel and said median portion of said label, and said gusset strips being bonded along opposite edges of said pocket panel and bonded to said median portion of said label, whereby said pocket panel can be expanded, from top to bottom thereof, away from said median portion of said label to receive an item in said secondary compartment, between said median portion and said pocket panel; an access opening in said pocket panel for access to said secondary item compartment; and, a closure along said access opening of said pocket panel for closing the secondary item compartment, the closure being releasable to remove the item.
 2. A combination package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container is formed of material selected from the group comprising glass, metal, ceramic, paper, and thermo plastic material, and the secondary item compartment is formed with the label, and a closure for the compartment, all being integrally bonded together on the exterior of the container.
 3. A combination package as claimed in claim 2 wherein the container is a bottle with a cap, and wherein the label is bonded around the bottle, and wherein the secondary item compartment extends out from the label.
 4. A combination package as claimed in claim 3 wherein the bottle has a curved contour and wherein the label fits around the curved contour.
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled) 